AFTER-LIFE CONSERVATION PLAN Integral recovery of the Bonelli´s Eagle population in Spain Recuperación integral de la población española de águila de Bonelli LIFE12 NAT/ES/000701 AFTER-LIFE CONSERVATION PLAN BONELLI LIFE12 NAT/ES/000701 CONTENTS BACKGROUND 1 SITUATION PRIOR TO LIFE BONELLI 1 OBJECTIVES, ACTIONS AND RESULTS OF LIFE BONELLI 2 CURRENT SITUATION AND CONSERVATION PRIORITIES 5 CURRENT SITUATION OF THE BONELLI’S EAGLE IN SPAIN 5 CONDITIONING FACTORS 7 INDICATORS OF LONG-TERM PROGRESS AND MEASUREMENT UNITS 8 SWOT ANALYSIS 9 THE AQUILA a-LIFE PROJECT BONELLI AFTER-LIFE CONSERVATION PLAN 10 OBJECTIVES 11 ACTION SITES 11 HABITATS AND SPECIES 13 MEASURES AND INTERVENTION GUIDELINES BY OBJECTIVES 16 OVERALL BUDGET 43 MONITORING 46 AFTER-LIFE CONSERVATION PLAN BONELLI LIFE12 NAT/ES/701 BACKGROUND SITUATION PRIOR TO LIFE BONELLI For more than 30 years, measures have been taken to ensure the legal protection and environmental management of natural spaces, and through the application of European Directives which have favoured the Bonelli’s eagle. The measures which most directly benefited raptors were those related to their legal protection through the transposition and application of European Directives (on Habitats and Birds) and the application of legislation and standards concerning the modification of overhead power lines. All these measures focused chiefly on reducing the causes of mortality (direct persecution and modification of power lines), lessening disturbance in breeding areas (nest surveillance, regulation of sports and leisure activities) and certain actions aimed at improving habitats (recovery of prey species). Since 2005, however, the Bonelli’s eagle population has declined, particularly on the outer reaches of its range, and has even experienced local extinctions. In 2006, the Bonelli's eagle population in Spain was estimated to stand at around 750 pairs (Del Moral, 20061), representing 75% of the entire population of the species in Europe. 80% of the Iberian population is located in the south of the peninsula. As for its conservation status, a negative population trend has been observed in those parts furthest afield from the area with the densest population (the southern Mediterranean seaboard region). If this trend continues, the north of Aragon, Navarre, the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, Castile-León, Madrid and north-eastern part of Castile-La Mancha could find themselves bereft of the Bonelli's eagle in the coming decades (Del Moral, 2006). The main threats to the species can be summarised as follows: Electrocution: electrocution, particularly on distribution power lines, is the main cause of mortality in the species. It affects both young birds that are dispersing and breeding adults, the impact on population dynamics of the loss of one of a pair proving more serious. Direct persecution: poisoning and shooting have traditionally been among the main causes of mortality in the species, especially in eastern areas. Although this situation has fortunately improved in recent years, offences of this kind are still committed against the Bonelli’s eagle. Drowning and collision: collision can occur against any type of overhead cable (e.g. railway catenaries, vineyard trellising structures) and at wind farms near breeding grounds. Drowning is not rare either, especially among young inexperienced birds, although it can also cause death in adults. Homogenisation of the habitat due to human action or abandonment: such homogenisation leads to the loss of the prey species’ habitats and ,therefore, a drop in the trophic resources available, which may limit the productivity of the species and even, in extreme cases, the abandonment of breeding areas. Changes of this kind are often due to agricultural intensification and the demise of traditional farming methods. Human disturbance in nesting areas: associated with recreational and leisure activities (hiking, adventure sports such as climbing and canyoning, etc.) and productive activities (quarries, farming, etc.). The delicate situation of the species explains why no fewer than 8 LIFE projects directly related to the Bonelli's eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) have been implemented in different regions of Spain, together with another project in Portugal, in the last few years. 1 Del Moral, J.C. (ed.) 2006. El águila perdicera en España. Población en 2005 y método de censo (The Bonelli’s eagle in Spain. Population in 2005 and census method). SEO/BirdLife. Madrid. 3 AFTER-LIFE CONSERVATION PLAN BONELLI LIFE12 NAT/ES/701 OBJECTIVES, ACTIONS AND RESULTS OF LIFE BONELLI The chief objective of LIFE BONELLI has been to recover the Spanish population of the Bonelli’s eagle through a joint programme applied to diverse populations within the species’ range on the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. In order to achieve this objective, LIFE BONELLI has focused on reinforcing the population in Madrid, Alava and Navarre, and reintroducing the species to Mallorca. Work has also been performed to meet the following specific objectives: To reduce the risk of collision and electrocution in areas in which this problem may still represent a constraining factor and in new areas identified during the Project. To create favourable habitats in breeding areas abandoned by the species by eliminating disturbance and threats, preventing large-scale changes to the landscape as a result of the desertion of traditional practices and maintaining the populations of prey species. To keep an international inventory of breeding pairs in captivity in order to optimise resources and genetic variability. In order to achieve these objectives, the project has carried out the actions listed in the following table: A1. Study of the potential of the sites selected to implement the interventions. A A2. Discussions to establish areas for collaboration and partnerships. C1. Maintenance of traditional livestock farming practices. C C2. Maintenance and/or recovery of prey populations. C3. Reduction of disturbance and causes of mortality. C4. Population reinforcement measures. C5. Monitoring of breeding pairs and removal of eaglets from nests. C6. Increase in the Bonelli's eagle breeding pool and production of young birds. D1. Monitoring of reintroduced birds. D D2. Monitoring of the populations of prey species. D3. Ecosystem and economic-impact assessment. E1. Communication plan. E E2. Knowledge management. E3. Specific outreach campaigns for hunters, climbers, etc. E4. "Bonelli, living nature” outreach and awareness-raising campaigns. F1. Project management and coordination. F F2. Networking with other projects. F3. External financial audit. F4. AFTER-LIFE plan. 4 AFTER-LIFE CONSERVATION PLAN BONELLI LIFE12 NAT/ES/701 The conservation actions have been carried out in 5 Autonomous Communities: Madrid, Balearic Islands, Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, Andalusia and Autonomous Community of Navarre. Captive breeding centres in France have also taken part. The implementation of the LIFE BONELLI Project has allowed the participants to share the different types of work and methodologies through which to boost the Bonelli’s eagle population in Spain and check their efficiency. Actions A1 and A2 have made it possible to select the most ideal locations for the reinforcement work (specific conservation actions), on the one hand by identifying those sites with the greatest potential to accommodate the species and on the other by establishing areas of collaboration and partnership with the political and social actors involved in land management. Actions C1-C6 have helped to set in motion the conservation work planned for each territory: improvement of the prey species’ habitats (Navarre) through maintenance of traditional farming practices (C1 and C2); reduction of the causes of mortality through the modification of overhead power lines, adaptation of pools to prevent drowning, prevention of fatal competition with the Golden eagle and improved survival of the species in the early stages of the liberation (C3). Correction of the disturbance caused by human activities (climbing, hunting, public use, etc.) has been developed and worked on in actions A2 and E3 through conversations and agreements with the key actors in the areas of intervention. One of the most relevant actions, reintroduction and population reinforcement (C4), has included both breeding in captivity and the rehabilitation of injured individuals for subsequent release. This action has led to the reintroduction of the species in Mallorca (25 individuals) and reinforcement of the population in Madrid (36 individuals), Navarre (23 individuals) and Álava (8 individuals). Monitoring breeding pairs in Andalusia, tracking wild specimens with GPS tags and removing eaglets for later liberation in the release areas (C5) and action C6 have made it possible to product an accurate census of captive breeding programmes in Europe and the Middle East, and ensure better communication and sharing of experiences and resources. As a result, a complete inventory of potential captive parents has been obtained and a methodology for the captive breeding of the species has been designed. LIFE BONELLI has developed specific tasks to assess the impact of the project in different areas: in addition to monitoring all the individuals released since the start of the project on a daily basis (action D1), efforts have also been made to monitor the prey species (D2) and the impact the project has had in both economic terms and regarding ecosystem services has